FWC announces harvest levels for Oct. Apalachicola Bay oyster season and prepares for Big Bend management and restoration

During its August meeting in Panama City Beach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced harvest levels for the upcoming Oct. Apalachicola Bay oyster season and discussed the development of future management and restoration initiatives across Florida's Big Bend.

The season begins Oct. 1, 2026, and will continue through Feb. 28, 2027, for endorsed commercial and permitted recreational harvesters. During this season, harvesting in Apalachicola Bay will be allowed at three reef sites, NWFW Cat Point, Cat Point Spur and Peanut Ridge, with a total annual harvest limit of 2,560 bags. FWC sets harvest levels for each season based upon oyster abundance.

"We've opened a fishery that has been closed for six years and now we have it in a restored fashion where people are able to get back on the water, this is a huge success," said Vice Chairman Joshua Kellam.

In the Big Bend, oyster populations have experienced long-term declines, and harvest regulations no longer reflect the current condition of the resource. As a result, FWC staff are developing updates to oyster harvesting regulations specific to the Big Bend. Public workshops will be held throughout the summer and fall to gather public input and comments.

In addition to these proposed regulatory updates, staff are initiating restoration efforts in Dixie, Levy, and Citrus counties to support the long-term recovery and sustainability of oyster populations.

For more information on commercial oyster harvest regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and select "Commercial Regulations," then select "Oysters" under "Regulations by species - crabs, shrimp and shellfish."

For more information on recreational oyster harvest regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and select "Recreational Regulations," then select "Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish" followed by "Oysters and Clams."